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Oligopeptide repeats in the yeast protein Sup35p stabilize intermolecular prion interactions.

Parham, Steven N., Resende, Catarina, Tuite, Mick F. (2001) Oligopeptide repeats in the yeast protein Sup35p stabilize intermolecular prion interactions. EMBO Journal, 20 (9). pp. 2111-2119. ISSN 0261-4189. (doi:10.1093/emboj/20.9.2111) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:64)

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/emboj/20.9.2111

Abstract

The nuclear-encoded Sup35p protein is responsible for the prion-like [PSI(+)] determinant of yeast, with Sup35p existing largely as a high molecular weight aggregate in [PSI(+)] strains. Here we show that the five oligopeptide repeats present at the N-terminus of Sup35p are responsible for stabilizing aggregation of Sup35p in vivo. Sequential deletion of the oligopeptide repeats prevented the maintenance of [PSI(+)] by the truncated Sup35p, although deletants containing only two repeats could be incorporated into pre-existing aggregates of wild-type Sup35p. The mammalian prion protein PrP also contains similar oligopeptide repeats and we show here that a human PrP repeat (PHGGGWGQ) is able functionally to replace a Sup35p oligopeptide repeat to allow stable [PSI(+)] propagation in vivo. Our data suggest a model in which the oligopeptide repeats in Sup35p stabilize intermolecular interactions between Sup35p proteins that initiate establishment of the aggregated state. Modulating repeat number therefore alters the rate of yeast prion conversion in vivo. Furthermore, there appears to be evolutionary conservation of function of the N-terminally located oligopeptide repeats in prion propagation.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1093/emboj/20.9.2111
Additional information: 0261-4189 (Print) Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Uncontrolled keywords: Biological Assay Blotting, Western Conserved Sequence Evolution, Molecular Fungal Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/*metabolism Humans Macromolecular Substances Plasmids/genetics Prions/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism Protein Binding/physiology Protein Conformation Repetitive Sequences, Amino Acid/physiology Saccharomyces cerevisiae *Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins Sequence Deletion Structure-Activity Relationship
Subjects: Q Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Depositing User: Susan Davies
Date Deposited: 19 Dec 2007 17:52 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:38 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/64 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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